Crimping tool



Dec. 4, 1962 L. s. LYNCH, JR

CRIMPING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1959 INVENTOR. LESL/E 5. LYNCH JAE D 4, 1962 L. s. LYNCH, JR 3,066,717

CRIMPING TOOL Filed Dec. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1551/5 5. l Y/VCf/ J1? ATTORNE).

hired States assent Fatented Dec. 4 19%2 nice 3,066,717 CRIMPENG TUGL Leslie S. Lynch, lit, Union, NJ, assignor to The Thomas & ltetts (30., Elizabeth, NJ., a corporation of New ersey Filed Dec. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 861,998 2 Claims. (Cl. 153-1) The invention relates generally to crimping tools adapted for use in deforming cable splicing compression sleeves of ductile metal into rectangular form in crosssection, for example, and in crirnped engagement with electric cables intruded therein in end-to-end relation. The invention specifically relates to a tool of this character in which the tool is adapted to be equipped with any one of several pairs of complementary die inserts which distinmiish, one pair from another, in that each pair is provided with dilferent sizes and shapes of complementary working surfaces to accommodate the tool to operate on diiferent kinds and sizes of work.

More specifically, the invention resides in a crimping tool of the character specified which embodies improvemeats over the replaceable die nest crimping tool disclosed in Motches et al. Patent No. 2,838,970, issued to the same assignee as in this application.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a crimping tool of the character described wherein a fixed jaw and a movable jaw are each adapted to receive one of a selected pair of complementary die members in detachably secured relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crimping or compression tool of the character described which is adapted for the selective reception of a series of pairs of complementary die members in interchangeable relation whereby to provide difierent complementary working surfaces on the jaws of said tool adapted to operate, for example, as work-straightening anvils, wire cutters or crimping surfaces of differing contours and sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compression or crimping tool of the character specified which is adapted for the selective reception therein of a series of pairs of complementary die members whereby the work range and capacity of the tool is greatly increased and the sensible pressure on the handles of the tool substantially reduced during the initial stages of compression when the mechanical advantage of its jaw-actuating mechanism is at a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved complementary die structures adapted to be detachably secured to the jaws of an improved compression tool in abutting relation therewith, whereby the range and capacity of the tool is greatly increased, and sensible pressure on the handles thereof substantially reduced during the initial stages of a compression operation when the mechanical advantage of the tool is at a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, the novel features of which are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, the invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, being best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the head end of an improved compression tool constructed in accordance with the invention and equipped with a pair of complementary die elements, the tool and dies being shown in closed position;

FIG. 2 is an edge face view of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tool as in FIG. 1, showing the relatively movable complementary die elements in open position;

FIG. 5 is a similar view partly in section showing the manner in which the complementary die elements are seated in abutting relation with the fixed jaw and the movable jaw, the movable jaw of the tool being provided with means for detachably securing one of the die elements therein;

FIG. 6 is an inner edge face view of the arcuate slotted recess formed in the movable jaw of the tool for detachably receiving one of the die elements in locked relation therewith;

FIG. 7 is a plan view and edge view in elevation, respectively, of the die element which is adapted to be nested in the movable jaw element of the tool; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view and edge view in elevation, respectively, of the complementary die element which is adapted to be nested in the fixed jaw or head of the tool.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the improved compression tool, generally indicated at 10, which is shown equipped with one of several pairs of complementary die sections 12 and 14-, each die section of a pair thereof, for example, being best shown in FIGS, 7 and 8.

In accordance with the invention, and as best shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the compression tool ill comprises a pair of cheek plates 16 and 13, secured together in spaced relation by means of a pair of screw bolts 29, with a die section seating block 22 therebetween at the head-end thereof, forming a fixed jaw 26 and a movable jaw member 28 pivoted therebetween intermediate the ends thereof by a pivot bolt 30, whereby the jaw member 23 is adapted to have pivotal movement therebetween toward and away from the fixed jaw 26.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the movable jaw member 28 is actuated by a pair of tubular handle members 32 (only one of which is shown) connected respectively to the spaced inner ends 34 of the cheek plates 16 and 18, and to the inner end 36 of the movable jaw member 23, by means of a pair of socket-link members 38 and 40, the socket end of link member 38, having one end of the tubular handle 32 suitably secured therein and its opposite end formed to present a multi-clevis bracket 42 pivotally receiving the spaced inner ends 34 of the cheek plates 16 and 18 therein by means of a suitable transverse pivot pin 44.

The socket-link member 46 also includes a tubular end portion (not shown) wherein one end of the other tubular handle 32 is secured in like manner, and its opposite end formed to present a pair of spaced, parallel side plates 46 suitably provided with a transverse aperture for pivotally receiving the inner end as of the movable jaw member 23 by means of a suitable pivot pin as. The socket-link members 38 and 40 are pivotally interconnected by means of an intermediate link 50 having one end thereof connected to clevis bracket end 42 of the socket link 38 by means of a suitable transverse pivot pin 52, and its opposite end similarly connected to an intermediate portion of the socket-link 40, by means of a transverse pivot pin 54- forming a toggle connection between the handles 32 and the movable jaw member 28, whereby the movable jaw member 28 is moved toward and away from the fixed jaw 26, in response to movement of the handles 32 between open and closed position in a manner similar to that disclosed in the herein-identified Motches et al. patent.

Further in accordance with the invention, the die seating block 22 forming the fixed jaw 26 of the tool 10 is provided with right angularly related surfaces 56 for receiving corresponding surfaces of the rectangular die block 12 in abutment therewith, as best shown in F168. 4 and 5, the die block 12 being yieldably retained in position, as shown, by means of a triangular spring clip 58, secured to the outer face of the cheek plate 16, by the screw bolts 20, with its free end 6% provided with a suitable aperture and extending substantially to the center of the die-block '12, to snap over either one of a pair of short, rounded projections 62, formed on one side of the die-block 12, on opposite sides of its axial center.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the opposite corner portions of the complementary die block 12, shown in alignment with the projections 62 thereon, are provided, respectively, with an angular cut-out portion 64 of varying dimensions and having its side margins relieved as at 66, to reduce the width thereof for clearance purposes, and an arcuate cut-out 63 also varying in size and having its side margins relieved as at "itl, which presents diverging opposite side faces forming the Angle A in FIGS. 1 and 8. The cut-out 64 is adapted, in conjunction with complementary working surfaces 72 in the die-block 14, for effecting a square, diamond-shaped or other rectangular crimp in a cylindrical work piece W, and the arcuate cut-out 6% adapted, in conjunction with the complementary working surfaces 72, in the die-block 14-, for effecting a crimp in the work piece W having a rounded top and square bottom, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, by the provision of the working die surfaces shown, for example, in the complementary die-blocks 12 and 14, the sensible pressure on the handles 32 of the tool it is reduced during the initial stages of compression when the mechanical advantage of the tool 10 is at a minimum, i.e., the amount of squeeze pressure required to start a crimping operation is substantially reduced and the capacity, range and utility of the tool enhanced by the replacement feature of both die blocks.

Further in accordance with the invention, the pivoted jaw member 28 is provided with an arcuate die seat 74 having an arcuate groove "In of rectangular configuration in cross-section, centrally thereof and throughout the extent of the arcuate die-seat 74, a fixed stop pin 78 being disposed in the arcuate groove 76, adjacent one end thereof, and a spring-influenced plunger pin 30 extending centrally through the plane of the jaw member 28, adjacent the opposite end of the arcuate die-seat 74, for a purpose now to be described.

As best shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the complementary die-block 145 is provided with a complementary, matching arcuate edge 84 centrally therealong and provided with a transverse shoulder 86 at one end thereof, and a rectangular notch 8% adjacent the opposite end thereof, whereby the complementary die-block 14 is adapted to nest in the arcuate seat 74, in the movable jaw member 28, in sliding tongueand-groove relation to form the working die-face thereof and to be removably held therein against relative arcuate movement by the abutment of its shoulder 86, against the stop pin 73, and the seating of the inner end of the spring-influenced locking pin 8%, in the notch 88, whereby the die-block M is operable as a part of the movable jaw member 28, in response to manipulation of the bandle members 32 of the tool 10, in known manner.

It is to be observed that the arcuate groove 76 in the movable jaw member 23 is formed to such depth as to provide clearance for the outer periphery of the tongue 84 on the die-block 14-, as indicated between the broken lines numbered 76 and 84 in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, whereby to insure seating of the die-block 14 on the arcuate die seat 74, provided therefor in the movable complementary dieablock 14.

A rectangular chain link 96 is pivoted through the head end of the cheek plates 16 and 18, and below the fixed die-seating block 22, whereby the tool iii, of substantial face 82, having an arcuate tongue d size and weight, may be suspended from a fixed support or readily raised by means of a rope to elevated or overhead structures.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be readily apparent that the improved tool is adapted for use with multi-setsof complementary twopart die members with each pair provided with complementary Working surfaces of different size and configuration utilizable in like pairs or in combination, whereby the utility of the tool is enhanced and the sensible pressure on the handles thereof, at the beginning of a crimping operation, substantially reduced.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept underlying the same. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except as is necessitated by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a crimping tool. of the character described, the combination of a fixed die seating member presenting flat faces normal to each other, a relatively movable die seating member presenting a grooved arcuate edge face in opposed relation to the flat faces of said fixed seating member, said arcuate edge face including a stop pin adjacent one end thereof and a spring-influenced pin adjacent its opposite end, a rectangular die block including a retention means on one side thereof seated on said fixed die seating member, resilient means secured to said tool adjacent said fixed seating member in coactable relation with said retention means maintaining said rectangular die block in position thereon, an arcuate die block including an arcuate tongue, seated on the grooved arcuate face of said movable die-seating member, said arcuate die block presenting a shoulder in abutment with said stop pin and provided with a notch for receiving said spring-influenced pin partly therein whereby said arcuate die block is detachably secured to said movable die-seating member, said rectangular and arcuate die blocks being provided respectively in their opposite edge faces with crimping die surfaces adapted to be disposed in complementary relation upon relative movement of said die seating members to closed position.

2. In a crimping tool of the character described, the combination of a fixed dieeating member presenting flat faces normal to each other, a relatively movable die-seating member presenting a grooved arcuate edge face in opposed relation to the flat faces of said fixed seating member, said arcuate edge face including a stop pin adjacent one end thereof and a spring-influenced pin adjacent its opposite end, a rectangular die block having a pair of spaced projections on one side thereof, seated in said fixed die-seating member, yieldable means secured to said tool adjacent said fixed die-seating member engaging one of said projections for maintaining said rectangular die block in position therein, an arcuate die block having an arcuate tongue integral with one edge face thereof seated on the grooved arcuate face of said movable die-seating member, said arcuate die block presenting a shoulder adjacent one end thereof in abutment with said stop pin and provided with a notch adjacent its opposite end for receiving said spring-influenced pin partly therein whereby said arcuate die block is detaehably secured to said movable die-seating member, said rectangular die block having a recess in its opposed corner portion defining an arcuate crimping die surface terminating in diverging flat faces, and said arcuate die block presenting a recess in its opposed edge face defining flat crimping surfaces normal to each other adapted to partly receive the recessed corner portion of said rectangular die block in complementary relation therewith upon relative move ment of said die-seating members to closed position.

(References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Jenkins Feb. 12, 1907 Kurtzhals Oct. 29, 1918 Baldanza July 11, 1939 Vergnani May 5, 1953 6 Dernler Sept. 11, 1956 Matches et a1. June 17, 1958 Dupre Mar. 1, 1960 Herrstrum June 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 31, 1947 

